The cold was still there… lingering somewhere deep, even though I couldn't quite feel it anymore.
I remained on the rooftop without knowing exactly how much time had passed. Maybe it had been minutes… maybe more.
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold. It was a calm sunset… even beautiful.
But to me… everything looked dim.
The wind blew softly, barely moving my hair. Normally, that kind of thing would calm me… but now it only made me feel emptier.
I leaned against the railing, looking out over the city without really seeing it.
Shiori's words kept repeating in my head.
Over and over again.
Without stopping.
Each repetition hurt a little more, as if my mind refused to let me forget. I clenched my teeth, trying to block out that constant echo, but it was useless.
—...how pathetic... —I muttered quietly, not even sure if I meant the situation… or myself.
A small, humorless laugh escaped me.
I knew it was a possibility. From the beginning, I knew. It wasn't like I had fooled myself into thinking everything would go well.
And even so…
it hurt more than I expected.
Much more.
I slowly let myself drop to the ground, sitting with my back against the railing. The metal was cold… but not as cold as the feeling in my chest.
I remembered every moment I had spent trying to get closer to Shiori. Every word I had practiced before speaking to her.
Every small hope I had built in silence… only for everything to collapse in a matter of seconds.
I looked at my hands for a moment, not really thinking about anything.
—I guess… this is normal, right? —I murmured.
Rejection… Distance.
Being alone again… it always ended the same way.
But this time… it was different.
Before, loneliness was something I had gotten used to.
Something quiet.
Bearable.
Not now… now it hurt.
And it wasn't just because of the rejection…
I shut my eyes tightly, clenching my fists slightly.
—No… —I whispered, almost voiceless—. It wasn't just that…
I swallowed, feeling a knot form in my throat.
What hurt the most… wasn't her words.
It was her expression.
At the moment I confessed what I felt… something in her changed.
I saw it clearly.
Like a switch had been flipped.
Up until that instant, Shiori was still… herself. The same as always. Calm, a little distant, but… warm.
But after…
I slowly shook my head, unable to properly organize that memory.
—That face… —I whispered.
It wasn't just discomfort.
It wasn't just surprise.
It was… rejection.
A pure, unfiltered rejection.
Her eyes… no longer saw me the same way.
It was as if, all of a sudden, I had become something unpleasant.
Something that needed to be pushed away.
Something that shouldn't have been there in the first place.
A shiver ran through my body.
—As if… I disgusted her —I said quietly, almost afraid to admit it.
I clenched my teeth harder.
That expression… didn't match the Shiori I thought I knew.
There was something else.
Something I didn't understand at that moment… but that now wouldn't stop circling in my head.
It wasn't just rejection.
There was… hardness.
Coldness.
Almost… hatred.
I slowly opened my eyes, staring into the empty space in front of me.
—Since when did she look at me like that…?
The question slipped out on its own.
And I had no answer.
Because if that look was real…
Then maybe everything else had been a lie.
Or worse…
Maybe I had never been anything to her.
. . .
I don't know when I found the strength to stand up.
But I did.
My legs felt heavy… as if every step required more effort than it should.
Even so, I walked.
I left the rooftop without looking back.
I went down the stairs almost automatically, my mind still trapped in that moment… in that look.
When I finally crossed the school gate, the noise of the outside world hit me all at once.
Voices… Laughter.
Normal conversations.
The world kept going… as if nothing had happened.
As if I hadn't just been shattered into pieces.
—Sora.
I looked up.
Haru and Seiji were there.
Waiting for me.
Both had strange expressions… tense. As if they didn't quite know what to say.
As if they already imagined the answer.
—You took a while… —Seiji said, scratching the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze.
Haru, on the other hand, didn't take his eyes off me for a second.
—What happened up there? —he asked directly.
I opened my mouth… but nothing came out.
I didn't know how to explain it.
I wasn't even sure I understood it myself.
They exchanged a quick glance.
Uncomfortable.
—Hey… —Haru continued, lowering his voice a bit—. Before you came down…
Seiji let out a short sigh, like he didn't want to say it, but knew he had to.
—Shiori ran out.
My body tensed without me being able to stop it.
—…ran? —I repeated, barely.
—Yeah —Seiji replied—. She went down the stairs like… I don't know… like something was chasing her.
Haru nodded slowly.
—We called out to her, but she didn't react properly.
My hands clenched into fists.
—What do you mean "didn't react"? —I asked, feeling a slight pressure in my chest.
Haru frowned, searching for the right words.
—She was… off.
—Really off —Seiji added—. She was breathing heavily, like she couldn't get enough air. And when we talked to her… she barely looked at us.
I swallowed.
—Did she say anything?
They both shook their heads.
—I tried to stop her —Haru said—, but when I touched her… she pulled away instantly.
His expression turned more serious.
—Like she was scared.
At that moment, I felt something hollow open up in my stomach.
—And her eyes… —Seiji murmured, hesitating for a second—. They weren't the same.
The world seemed to go silent for a moment.
—What do you mean? —I asked, even though deep down… I already knew.
Seiji hesitated.
But in the end, he spoke.
—I don't know how to explain it… but she didn't seem like herself.
Haru nodded, more firmly this time.
—Yeah. It was like… she was in shock. Or like she had seen something she couldn't process.
I lowered my gaze.
My thoughts went back to that moment.
To her expression.
To that look.
"…she didn't seem like herself."
A part of me wanted to convince myself that everything had been my fault.
That it was just rejection.
Something normal.
Something I had to accept.
But now…
—… —I clenched my teeth.
Something didn't add up.
—Hey, Sora… —Haru said carefully—. What did you say to her?
The question hung in the air.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
I slowly raised my head.
—…I just told her how I felt.
My voice sounded emptier than I expected.
Seiji frowned.
—Just that…?
I didn't answer.
Because deep down… I knew it hadn't been "just that."
There had been something else.
Something that changed in that moment.
Something that… I still didn't understand.
The silence between us grew dense.
Haru sighed, running a hand through his hair.
—I don't like this… —he muttered—. I don't like any of this.
I didn't respond either.
Because for the first time… I felt the same way.
. . .
We parted ways without saying much more.
Haru insisted a bit on walking me home, but I told him I was fine.
Obviously, I lied.
Seiji just gave me a pat on the shoulder before leaving. He didn't say anything… but his expression said it all.
Concern.
In the end, we each went our own way.
And I… just started walking.
I didn't really feel like going home.
Not yet.
My steps carried me aimlessly, moving through streets I knew by heart, but that now felt… strange.
Distant.
As if I no longer belonged there.
The city lights began to turn on one by one as the sky darkened.
The usual noise —cars, conversations, footsteps— reached my ears as if I were underwater.
Distant… muffled.
—…what a shitty day… —I muttered, letting out a slow breath.
I kept walking.
Not thinking about anything.
Or maybe thinking too much… without reaching any conclusion.
Every time my mind tried to return to that moment… to that look… something in my chest tightened.
So I just kept moving forward.
As if walking would be enough to leave it behind.
It wasn't.
Before I realized it, I was standing in front of a railway crossing.
A small, quiet street.
The barriers began to lower with that familiar metallic sound, blocking the way on both sides.
I stopped along with the others waiting.
Office workers. Students.
Normal people, checking their phones or simply staring ahead, used to the routine.
I did the same.
Or at least… I tried.
I put my hands in my pockets and lowered my gaze.
The ground… The yellow lines… My own shoes.
Anything to avoid thinking.
The distant sound of the train began to grow, vibrating softly in the air.
A reminder that I had to wait.
That I couldn't move forward.
—…great —I muttered.
I leaned my weight slightly forward, letting out a sigh.
And then… without really thinking… I looked up.
On the other side of the tracks.
Among the people.
I saw her.
My heart stopped for a moment.
Shiori.
She was there.
Walking toward the crossing.
Something about her… was off.
Unlike the others, she wasn't looking at her phone.
Nor talking to anyone.
She was just… there.
But something didn't fit.
Even from a distance, it was obvious.
Her posture.
The way she walked.
As if her body was there, but her mind somewhere else.
I frowned slightly.
—…Shiori? —I murmured, almost without realizing.
I felt my pulse start to quicken.
I didn't know whether to approach her.
I didn't know whether to say anything.
After what had happened… the logical thing would be not to.
And yet… my eyes couldn't leave her.
There was something strange.
Something… unsettling.
The wind gently moved her hair.
But she didn't react.
She didn't even blink.
And then I felt it.
That same premonition.
That same discomfort as before.
Like something wasn't right.
Like… something bad was about to happen.
—… —I swallowed.
. . .
The sound of the train grew louder.
Closer.
The vibration began to be felt under my feet… and yet, my eyes remained fixed on her.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
—Shiori… —I murmured, a little louder this time.
No reaction.
Not a movement.
Not a glance.
Nothing.
I frowned.
My chest tightened.
—…hey… —I took a step forward instinctively.
That's when I saw her move.
But it wasn't a normal movement.
It wasn't natural… She took a step.
Slow… unsteady.
As if she couldn't see where she was going.
As if she wasn't really there.
My eyes widened slightly.
—…what…?
Shiori took another step.
And then…
she crossed the safety line.
My heart stopped.
—…no…
The world seemed to fall silent for a moment.
The train was already there.
The sound.
The speed.
Everything.
But she… didn't react.
Her gaze remained lost.
Empty.
As if she were trapped in something only she could see.
—SHIORI! —I shouted.
Nothing.
She didn't even turn her head.
A chill ran through my entire body.
She wasn't ignoring me.
She wasn't rejecting me.
She… wasn't conscious.
And in that instant… I understood.
There was no time.
No space to hesitate.
Nothing left to think about.
My legs moved on their own.
I ran.
Without measuring the distance… without thinking about the train.
Without thinking about anything… just her.
. . .
The sound became deafening.
People started screaming.
But all of that became background noise.
Because in my mind, there was only one thing.
—It doesn't matter… —I clenched my teeth as I ran—. Even if you hate me…
I pushed off with all my strength.
I reached out my arm.
—I won't let you disappear again!
I shoved her.
I felt her body lose balance… moving away from the tracks.
Falling.
Safe.
And for a second… just a second… I felt relief.
But then—
The light.
The noise.
The vibration beneath my feet.
Too close.
I tried to move.
I didn't make it.
Something struck me from the side.
A brutal impact.
It wasn't the full train… just a part of it… but it was enough.
I felt my body lift off the ground without control.
The world spun.
Sky and ground twisted together in an instant I couldn't follow.
And then—
Darkness.
No… not completely.
A second impact.
Dry.
My head.
After that… nothing made sense.
The sound of the train roared past me… but it wasn't clear anymore.
It felt far away… very far.
Everything began to fade.
My body… wouldn't respond.
I didn't feel pain exactly… just a strange pressure… heavy… distant.
As if it no longer fully belonged to me.
I tried to move my fingers.
I couldn't.
I tried to breathe.
The air barely entered.
I opened my eyes… or at least I think I did.
The light was blurry.
Diffused.
As if I were seeing the world through water.
Shapes didn't make sense.
Until little by little… a figure began to take form in front of me.
Shiori.
She was there. On her knees.
Trembling.
Her hands gripped my clothes tightly… as if she were afraid I would disappear.
—Sora… —her voice came out broken, unstable—. Sora… no…
I blinked slowly, trying to focus on her.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
But that wasn't what stopped me.
It was her expression.
Fear.
Real fear.
Deep.
Nothing like the look she had given me before.
—…are you… okay… —I murmured with difficulty.
I didn't know if she heard me.
But I needed to ask.
Her lips trembled.
She shook her head again and again, as if trying to erase what had just happened.
—No… I… I didn't realize… —her voice broke—. I didn't… I…
She couldn't finish her sentences.
The words fell apart.
I tried to move my hand.
It didn't respond well.
But even so… I felt her grip tighten.
As if that small contact was the only thing keeping her standing.
—…it's okay… —I whispered.
And at that moment, I realized something.
The pain… wasn't as strong anymore.
In fact… it was fading.
Like everything else.
The voices around me.
The lights.
The noise.
Everything was drifting away little by little, as if I were sinking into a place where none of it could reach me.
—I'm sorry… —Shiori repeated, almost voiceless—. I'm so sorry…
I closed my eyes for a moment.
Not out of exhaustion.
But because… there was no point in keeping them open anymore.
—…it's okay… —I murmured.
And this time, there was no doubt.
I meant it.
Because, in the end… the only thing that mattered… was that she was alive.
Her silhouette began to fade.
The lights turned into blurs.
The voices… distant echoes.
Everything dissolved slowly.
—…that's good… —I whispered faintly.
And then… everything simply disappeared.
. . .
...silence.
There was no pain... There was no sound.
There was nothing.
I didn't know how much time had passed... or if time even still existed.
I opened my eyes.
Or at least... I thought I did.
Because nothing changed.
It was still dark.
An absolute, deep black... as if there were no "place" to exist in.
I tried to move.
And my body responded... but in a strange way.
Light... Weightless.
As if it wasn't completely mine.
—...Where am I...? —I said, confused.
My voice came out... distant, empty.
Without echo... Without response.
Silence wrapped around everything again.
—Hello...?
Nothing.
Not even the slightest sound.
It was as if the world had disappeared... and I had been left behind.
The memory came back all at once.
The train... The noise.
Shiori.
The impact.
My eyes opened a little wider.
—...wait...
—...I...
My voice trembled.
—...hadn't I... died?
The question floated in the void.
Without an answer.
Without meaning.
—Is this...? —I murmured— Is this death...?
It didn't hurt.
But it wasn't comforting either.
It was just emptiness.
An emptiness so deep it seemed to swallow even my thoughts.
And then—
—...don't fail again...
I froze.
My breathing stopped.
That voice...
I turned my head instinctively.
But there was nothing.
—Shiori...? —I whispered, almost without thinking.
No... It wasn't her voice.
It was... different.
Softer... Calmer.
But also... strangely close.
As if it were right beside me.
Or inside my head.
—...again —the voice continued, in a warm whisper.
A chill ran through me.
—Who... are you...?
There was no immediate response.
Only silence again.
But it wasn't the same silence anymore.
Now... it felt accompanied.
—...don't fail again... —the voice finally murmured— This time...
The sentence cut off.
As if it had never existed.
—...this time...? —I repeated quietly, confused.
My chest tightened.
I didn't understand anything.
But there was something in those words... that didn't fit.
That shouldn't be there.
Then... the darkness changed.
A small light appeared in the distance.
Faint.
Almost nonexistent.
But enough to break the void.
My attention shifted toward it.
And little by little... it began to grow.
The darkness started to retreat, slowly, as if it couldn't hold against that presence.
The light became brighter.
Warmer.
And with it... the strange feeling left by that voice didn't disappear.
It stayed.
At the back of my mind.
Like a question without an answer.
The cold faded away.
The tension in my chest eased.
Even the fear... died down.
Without realizing it, I took a step forward.
Or maybe... the light came toward me.
At some point, the darkness ceased to exist.
Only white remained.
An infinite white.
Silent.
Calm.
But even in that calm... a doubt still lingered.
—...who was that voice...?
. . .
The silence was still there.
But it didn't feel the same anymore.
There was something... A presence.
Not a sound. Not a clear figure.
But... I wasn't alone anymore.
I slowly turned my head.
And then I saw him.
A few steps away, someone was standing.
I didn't know when he appeared.
I wasn't even sure if he had actually "appeared."
It was as if he had always been there... and I had simply not noticed.
An old man.
Dressed in white.
But it wasn't a normal white.
It was... hard to describe.
It didn't shine in an overwhelming way.
Rather... it seemed to emit a calmness that filled the entire space.
It cast no shadow.
It didn't seem affected by anything.
It simply... was.
Watching me.
I felt a slight tension in my chest.
—...Who...?
My voice came out lower than I expected.
The old man smiled.
—Where am I? —I finally asked— What is this place?
The old man didn't respond immediately.
He just looked at me.
As if he were evaluating something.
As if he were measuring my words... or my thoughts.
—It depends on how you want to understand it —he finally said.
I frowned.
—What do you mean "depends"...?
—For some, it is the end —he continued calmly——For others... it is just a point of transition.
A chill ran through me.
Those words didn't comfort me at all.
—...I died —I said, more like a statement than a question.
The old man nodded slightly.
As if that wasn't anything special.
I clenched my teeth.
—Then... is this heaven or something?
The old man let out a small laugh.
Not mocking.
But... slightly amused.
—Humans need to put names on everything —he replied——"Heaven," "hell," "afterlife"...
He paused briefly.
—They're not entirely wrong... but they don't truly understand it either.
My head was starting to ache.
—Then could you tell me what I'm doing here? —I said, a bit more directly— Because I'm not understanding anything.
The old man looked at me in silence for a few seconds.
And then... he took a step toward me.
I didn't hear any sound.
Not even his footsteps.
—If I gave you a complete answer right now —he said softly——you wouldn't accept it.
I stayed silent.
Not because I wanted to.
But because... I knew he was right.
—...then... —I murmured——who are you?
The old man tilted his head slightly.
As if he found the question interesting.
—That also depends —he replied.
I frowned.
—Depends on what?
His eyes fixed on mine.
And for the first time... I felt something different.
Not fear. But... pressure.
As if he were seeing through me.
—On what you are willing to believe —he said.
Silence fell between us again.
Heavier this time.
More aware.
—For some —he continued——I am an illusion.
—For others... a necessity.
—And for a few...
He paused slightly.
—I am the answer they were looking for.
My breathing slowed.
—...that doesn't answer my question —I said.
The old man smiled faintly.
I remained silent... Confused... Annoyed.
And... strangely intrigued.
A few seconds passed.
Or maybe more.
—... —I exhaled slowly——this is ridiculous...
I brought a hand to my head.
—First I die... then I hear voices... now this...
I closed my eyes for a moment.
—Then explain it already —I said.
There was a brief silence.
And then—
—Alright.
The atmosphere seemed to change slightly.
—If you need a concrete answer...
He paused briefly.
—you can call me...
His eyes softened slightly.
—"The Creator," or simply "God"
. . .
I lost my breath for a moment.
It felt like something didn't fit.Nothing that was happening made sense.
—The... Creator...? —I repeated, almost in a whisper.
Trying to organize my thoughts, but it was impossible. Everything was too out of place.
I shook my head slightly.
—No... that doesn't make sense... —I murmured— This... this has to be some kind of dream... or a hallucination.
I clenched my fists.
—Because if it isn't... —I lifted my gaze, locking my eyes onto him— then it would mean that everything I believed in... was wrong.
The old man didn't respond immediately.
He simply looked at me.
Without judging.Without interrupting.
That, somehow... made me even more uncomfortable.
—You say you are the Creator... —I continued, this time more firmly— But that's impossible. God doesn't exist. It's just an idea... something people invented to give meaning to what they don't understand.
The old man finally smiled. Not mockingly... nor with superiority.
It was a calm smile. Almost... patient.
—It's curious —he said at last— Even now... you cling to the only thing that gave you certainty.
I didn't know how to respond.
—Most human beings think like you —he continued— They need explanations they can understand... something that fits within their own rules.
He paused briefly.
—But reality... doesn't always work that way.
A slight chill ran through me.
Not out of fear.
But because... deep down... something in his words was affecting me more than I wanted to admit.
—If... —I said slowly, lifting my gaze again— if you really are what you claim to be...
My voice faltered for a second... but I continued.
—Then answer me something.
I looked at him directly.
—Why am I here?
The air grew heavy.
—What is all this supposed to mean? —I continued— Why... did I end up here?
. . .
The old man didn't respond immediately.
He watched me in silence... as if evaluating something I couldn't see.
—Because you chose —he finally said.
I frowned.
—Chose...? —I repeated.
—Yes —he nodded calmly— At an important moment in your life... you didn't hesitate.
A slight knot formed in my chest.
Images came rushing back.
The train.The noise.Shiori.
—It wasn't a logical decision —he continued— Nor calculated. It was... instinctive.
I lowered my gaze.
—I just... —I murmured— didn't want her to die.
—I know —he replied.
There was no judgment in his voice.Only certainty.
—Even so —he added— what you did is not common.
I looked up, confused.
—Saving someone...? —I said— There are many people who would do the same.
The old man shook his head gently.
—Not when that person has just hurt you.
Silence grew heavy.
—Not when you've just been wounded... —he continued— Not when the easiest thing would have been to remain still.
I clenched my fists.
—You chose to move —he said— You chose to act... even when your heart was hurt.
My thoughts stopped for a moment.
—That kind of decision... doesn't come from reason —he added— It comes from who you are.
The air around me felt denser.
—And decisions like that... carry weight.
—Weight...? —I asked.
—Consequences —he corrected gently— Not only for the world... but for something more.
I didn't fully understand... but something in his words unsettled me.
—Your life ended —he said calmly— That cannot be changed.
A hollow feeling spread through my chest.
—But... —he continued— not everything ended with you.
I lifted my gaze abruptly.
—What do you mean?
The old man remained silent for a moment.
—Let's just say... you weren't the only one who arrived here at that moment.
My heart gave a small jolt.
—What...?
—Sometimes —he continued, glancing slightly aside— when two wills... two desires... reach the same point...
His voice grew softer.
—...fate finds... unusual ways to respond.
A chill ran through my body.
I didn't understand...but I felt there was something more.
Something he wasn't telling me.
—But that... you will understand later —he added finally.
Silence fell again between us.
—There is something else you should know —he said afterward.
I raised my gaze.
—Your birthday... is tomorrow, right?
My eyes widened slightly. I just nodded.
—And yet... —he continued softly— it wouldn't have been a happy day as it should.
I didn't know why... but those words left a strange feeling in my chest.
As if something else had been hidden from me.
—That's why —he added— I decided to give you something.
I looked at him, confused.
—Something...?
The old man smiled faintly.
—An opportunity.
The air seemed to lighten.
—Not everyone receives it —he continued— But you... did something that changed the course of things.
A brief silence followed.
—And now... you have a choice.
. . .
The Creator watched me in silence for a few seconds.
It wasn't a judging look...but it wasn't entirely kind either.
It was as if he were seeing something beyond me.
—Your life was not special —he finally said—Not brilliant... nor remarkable.
I lowered my gaze without saying anything.
I knew it was true.
—You avoided people.You avoided problems.You avoided... living —he continued calmly.
I clenched my fists.
I couldn't deny it.
—And yet... —he added slightly— you chose to move when it mattered most.
I lifted my gaze.
—I didn't think... —I murmured—I just... didn't want her to die.
The Creator nodded slowly.
—That is what makes an act valuable.
Silence fell again between us.
But this time... it felt different.
Heavier.
More... meaningful.
—Tell me, Sora —he continued—If you had another chance...would you live differently?
The question hit me harder than I expected.
I thought about everything.
My life.
What I didn't do.
What I avoided.
What I lost... without even trying.
I clenched my teeth.
—...yes —I finally answered—This time... I don't want to stay the same.
The Creator smiled faintly.
It wasn't a wide smile.
It was small... but enough.
—Then you're in luck.
I frowned.
—What do you mean?
The space around us shifted subtly.
The infinite white seemed to ripple... as if something else were mixing into that space.
Something I didn't understand.
—Your case is not common —he said—You didn't arrive here... alone.
My heart gave a small jolt.
—...what?
The Creator didn't answer directly.
—There are lives that end... leaving something behind —he continued—Desires.Regrets.Unfinished paths.
A chill ran through my body.
Without knowing why.
—And sometimes... when two endings occur at the same instant...those "things" can... intertwine.
I didn't fully understand.
But... something inside me reacted.
As if that idea... wasn't foreign to me.
—What are you saying...? —I asked quietly.
The Creator remained silent for a few seconds.
—That not everything ends... when it should —he finally replied.
I frowned.
—And in certain cases... it is possible to continue.
My breath caught for a moment.
—Continue...?
The Creator nodded slightly.
—I can return you to your world.
My heart pounded.
—...go back?
—To the point where everything ended.
For a second... I hesitated.
—But —he added— not as you were. Not as Kuroi Sora.
That phrase immediately tensed me.
—Then... how?
The Creator looked at me in silence.
As if deciding how much to say... and how much not to.
—As someone else.
I blinked.
—...someone else?
—A different life... a different body from the one you knew.
Something about his words made me uneasy.
I didn't know why.
But there was something... strange.
—And I... will I still have my memories? —I asked, hesitant.
—If you accept —he continued— you will open your eyes in that world...but not everything will feel familiar.
A slight chill ran through me.
—Your reflection will be different.
My hands instinctively tensed.
—Your voice... will not be the same.
—And there will be things... that you will feel as your own... even though they are not.
Silence fell abruptly.
—But you will still be you —he added—That will not change.
I lowered my gaze.
My head was a mess.
None of this made sense.
And yet...
—Can I... do things differently? —I asked.
The Creator didn't hesitate.
—That will depend on you.
I clenched my fists... That was all I needed.
—Then...
I took a deep breath.
—I want to go back.
The Creator nodded slowly.
As if he had known my answer from the beginning.
. . .
I remained silent.
I tried to make sense of everything... but each answer only raised more questions.
—But... why me? —I finally asked, lifting my gaze— I don't think I'm the first to end up here.
The Creator didn't respond immediately.
For a moment... he seemed to think.
—You're not —he finally said— Before you, others have been in this same situation.
My heart skipped.
—Then... —I frowned— they also...?
—They also received an opportunity —he continued calmly.
I waited.
But there was something in his tone... that didn't fit.
—And what happened to them? —I asked.
The silence that followed was... uncomfortable.
Heavy.
—Some... couldn't sustain it —he finally said.
I blinked.
—Sustain it...?
The Creator looked slightly away, as if observing something I couldn't see.
—A second life is not a gift without consequences —he added— It's not enough to receive it... you must be able to live it.
A faint chill ran through me.
—I don't understand... —I murmured.
—That's normal —he replied— You're not in a position to understand yet.
That answer didn't reassure me at all.
—Just remember this, Sora —he continued, looking at me again—
His voice didn't change... but something in it became firmer.
More serious.
—If you cling too much to what you were... if you refuse to move forward...
He paused briefly.
—you won't disappear all at once.
I swallowed.
—But... you will start to lose yourself.
Something inside me tightened.
—Lose myself...?
—Your memories —he said—Your emotions.Your sense of identity.
Each word fell heavier than the last.
—As if... you had never been there.
Silence returned.
But this time... it was suffocating.
I lowered my gaze, feeling a knot form in my chest.
—And... if someone... discovers who I was... —I asked, almost in a whisper.
The Creator didn't answer directly.
—There are truths that... are not meant to be held across more than one life —he said.
That didn't answer my question.
But... somehow... it did.
I clenched my fists.
I didn't like it.
I didn't like any of this.
But even so...
—...then —I took a deep breath— I just have to... move forward, right?
The Creator watched me in silence.
And then... nodded slightly.
—That is all that is expected of you.
I closed my eyes for a second.
The fear was still there.
The doubt too.
But... beneath all that... there was something else.
Something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Determination.
—...alright —I murmured— I'll do it.
The Creator watched me for a few more seconds.
And then... he smiled.
It wasn't a big smile.
It was calm... almost imperceptible.
But somehow... it felt sincere.
—I see... —he murmured.
Before I could say anything else, he stepped toward me.
Instinctively, I tensed slightly.
Not out of fear... but from the feeling that something was about to end.
He stopped in front of me.
And then... he raised his hand.
For a moment, I hesitated.
But I didn't move.
His hand gently rested on my head.
The contact was... strange.
It wasn't cold or warm.
It was... peaceful.
As if all the noise inside me had suddenly stopped.
—I hope that this time... —he said softly— you won't stop halfway again.
My eyes widened slightly.
I wanted to respond.
I wanted to ask him so many things.
About what he said before...about that "new identity"...about what was going to happen to me.
—Wait, I still—...
But I didn't finish the sentence.
The light around us began to fade.
Not suddenly.
Slowly.
As if the world were shutting down... layer by layer.
—That's enough for now —his voice added, growing more distant—
I took a step toward him.
—Wait! I still have questions!
But his figure began to blur.
—When you wake up... you will understand what is necessary.
Darkness.
The ground... disappeared.
My body became light.
Too light.
As if I were falling... or floating... I couldn't tell.
—What is that supposed to mean?!
No answer came.
Only silence.
And then—
A strange sensation.
Familiar.
As if I were being pulled toward something.
Or... returned.
My thoughts began to blur.
Words lost meaning.
Consciousness... slipped away.
And in that final instant, just before everything disappeared... I felt one clear thing.
It wasn't fear.
Not entirely.
It was... anticipation.
...
As if I were about to wake up from a dream.
. . .
The sensation came before consciousness.
Something… strange.
Heavy… and light at the same time.
As if my body wasn't fully responding to me.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
The light hit me directly.
—…ah…
The sky.
The first thing I saw was the sky.
Clear… calm… completely indifferent to everything that had just happened.
My breathing was irregular.
Slow… but unstable.
As if my own body didn't know how to breathe properly.
I tried to move.
And I did.
But… something didn't feel right.
I supported myself with one hand against the ground… or tried to.
My fingers trembled.
They felt… different.
Thinner.
More fragile.
—What…?
My voice came out… but it wasn't mine.
It was softer.
Higher.
I froze.
—…wait…
I swallowed.
My heart started racing.
I looked at my hand again.
No.
It wasn't just a feeling.
It wasn't just my voice.
Something was… wrong.
I pushed myself up with difficulty, leaning against the tree trunk behind me.
My body felt unstable.
Unfamiliar.
As if it didn't belong to me.
I lowered my gaze.
And that's when I saw it.
White fabric… a dress… a single piece.
Light… falling softly over my body.
My hands trembled as I touched it.
—…What is this…?
My breathing became faster.
Shorter.
I looked down further.
My chest.
My body.
My silhouette.
No…
—…this can't be…
I felt the air get stuck in my throat.
I stood up suddenly.
Or tried to.
My legs failed for a moment, forcing me to hold onto the tree again.
Everything felt… out of place.
My balance… my weight… my own body.
—What did you… do to me…?
My voice trembled.
But there was no one there.
The memory hit me then.
The train… the impact.
Shiori.
That white place… him.
My eyes widened.
—…it wasn't a dream…
My hands slowly tightened against the fabric of the dress.
My breathing grew heavier.
More conscious.
—…it wasn't… a dream…
I looked around.
The shrine.
I recognized it.
It was near my apartment.
Everything was still there.
The same.
But I… wasn't.
—…this doesn't make sense…
I took a step back.
Unsteady.
Confused.
Trapped in a body I didn't understand.
—…what am I supposed to be now…?
The wind blew softly.
Gently moving the white fabric.
My hair fell in front of my eyes.
Long.
Too long.
I awkwardly brushed it aside.
And stayed silent.
My heart was pounding.
Too fast.
—…
It wasn't a dream.
It wasn't an illusion.
It wasn't a joke.
It was real.
And that… was the most terrifying part of all.
. . .
I stayed silent for a moment longer.
Trying to breathe normally.
Trying… to accept whatever this was.
But my gaze drifted.
To the ground.
There was something there.
I didn't remember seeing it before.
It was an envelope.
Small.
Light-colored… almost the same tone as the dress I was wearing.
Too much of a coincidence.
I crouched carefully, still unsteady, and picked it up.
It felt… light.
—…
I hesitated for a second.
But I opened it anyway.
Inside there were several papers.
Documents.
I took them out slowly, one by one.
I frowned as I looked at them.
—What is all this…?
I didn't understand much at first.
They were forms… records… things I couldn't fully process in this state.
But then… something else fell out of the envelope.
A small wallet.
Simple.
Discreet.
I held it for a few seconds before opening it.
And when I did… my breath stopped.
There were cards inside.
Several.
Neatly arranged.
But one in particular caught my attention.
I took it.
My fingers trembled slightly.
It was an ID.
I looked at it.
And the world… seemed to fall silent.
There was a photo.
Of a girl.
Light, silver hair… delicate features…
a calm expression.
Too perfect.
Too… unfamiliar.
—…
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
But the image didn't change.
It was still her.
I read the name.
"Miyuki Shiro"
…
My throat tightened.
My hands clenched slightly around the card.
—…no…
A thought crossed my mind.
Clear.
Direct.
Impossible to ignore.
That girl…
Wasn't "someone else."
It was me.
A chill ran through my body.
From my neck… down my spine.
—…
I let out a small laugh.
Weak.
Humorless.
—…this is too much…
I looked down at my own body again.
The pieces fit.
One after another.
Leaving no room to deny it.
—…Miyuki… Shiro…
I whispered the name.
Testing it.
As if it didn't belong to me.
As if… I shouldn't be saying it.
And yet… it felt real.
Too real.
I tightened my grip on the ID.
My heart was racing.
Unsteady.
—…so this is what he meant…—I murmured.
Without knowing exactly why… but feeling that somewhere… all of this had already been decided.
I slowly raised my gaze.
I took a deep breath.
Slowly.
—…then…
I looked down one last time at the card.
—…this is who I am now…
With the card still in my hand.
"Miyuki Shiro."
That name… still didn't feel like mine.
But I couldn't reject it either.
I slowly put the wallet and the documents back into the envelope, holding it a little tighter than necessary.
As if letting go would make all of this disappear.
Or worse… make it even more real.
I took a step.
Then another.
My body still felt strange… but not as much as before.
It was uncomfortable.
But… manageable.
I walked toward the shrine steps.
The evening light filtered through the trees, painting everything in warm tones.
For a moment… everything seemed calm.
Too calm.
I looked up.
The city stretched out before me.
The same as always.
The same streets.
The same buildings.
The same life.
But… I was no longer part of it in the same way.
—…
I tightened my grip on the envelope slightly.
—…this is real… —I murmured.
Not as a doubt.
But as a confirmation.
I took a deep breath.
The air felt different.
Or maybe… it was me.
—…
I thought about everything.
About what I was.
What I did.
What I lost.
And what… I could no longer get back.
My fingers tightened slightly.
—…I'm not going back to the same thing…
I said quietly.
It didn't sound like a grand promise.
It sounded more… personal.
More firm.
More real.
I looked up at the city again.
—I don't know what I'm supposed to do…
I admitted.
—I don't understand all of this…
A small pause.
—But…
I closed my eyes for a moment.
Remembering.
—…this time…
I opened them slowly.
—I won't stand still.
The wind blew softly.
Moving my hair.
Brushing against the white dress.
Reminding me, once again… that there was no going back.
I took a step forward.
Descending the first stair.
—…I guess this is how it begins.
The sun was setting beyond the horizon.
And with it… the last part of who I was.
"This time… I couldn't allow myself to fail."
Next chapter:
"ADAPTATION: A Step Into the Unknown"